Ataxia

Background

• Failure to produce smooth intentional movements
• Sign of a variety of disease processes; not a diagnosis in its self

DDX

1. Systemic conditions
   1. Intoxications with diminished alertness
      1. Ethanol
      2. Sedative-hypnotics
   2. Intoxications with relatively preserved alertness
      1. Phenytoin
      2. Carbamazepine
      3. Valproic acid
      4. Lead, organic mercurials
   3. Other metabolic disorders
      1. Hyponatremia
      2. Inborn errors of metabolism
      3. Wernicke's disease
2. Disorders predominantly of the nervous system
   1. Conditions affecting predominantly one region of the CNS
      1. Cerebellum
         1. Hemorrhage
         2. Infarction
         3. Degenerative changes
         4. Abscess
      2. Cortex
         1. Frontal tumor, hemorrhage, or trauma
         2. Hydrocephalus
      3. Subcortical
         1. Thalamic infarction or hemorrhage
         2. Parkinson's disease
         3. Normal pressure hydrocephalus
      4. Spinal cord
         1. Cervical spondylosis
         2. Posterior column disorders
   2. Conditions affecting predominantly the peripheral nervous system
      1. Peripheral neuropathy
      2. Vestibulopathy

Source

Tintinalli